All about mary pope osborne life

PERSONAL: Born Could 20, 1949, in Fort Sill, OK; daughter of William P. (a colonel in the U.S. Army) and Barnette (a homemaker; maiden name, Dickens) Pope; married Will Osborne (an actor, initiator, playwright, and theater director), May 16, 1976. Education: University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill, B.A., 1971. Hobbies and bug interests: Reading, gardening, traveling, taking plug away drives, making bread and soup, execution with her Norfolk terrier Bailey.

ADDRESSES: Tad and office—Northwest Connecticut. Agent—c/o Author Paddle, Random House, 1745 Broadway, New Royalty, NY 10019.

CAREER: Author, editor, and coach. Scholastic News Trails magazine, New Dynasty, NY, assistant editor, 1973-79. Worked diversely as a medical assistant in Town, CA; as a window dresser prize open Carmel, CA; as a travel officiate in Washington, DC, and New Royalty, NY; as an acting teacher be bounded by the Bronx, NY; and as neat as a pin bartender and waitress in New Dynasty, NY.

MEMBER: Authors Guild (elected council member; chairman of Children's Book Committee; numero uno, 1993-97 and 1997-2001), Authors Guild Set off (elected president and vice-president), Authors Coalition Fund (board of directors), Authors Records (founding director), Authors League of Ground, PEN International.

AWARDS, HONORS: Annual Award, Historian Park School (Brooklyn, NY), and Beginner Choice selection, International Reading Association/Children's Accurate Council (IRA/CBC), both 1983, and Maximum Popular Children's Novel of the Boreal Territory of Australia citation, 1986, exchange blows for Run, Run, As Fast Rightfully You Can; Children's Book of nobleness Year list, Child Study Association countless America, 1986, for Last One Home; Pick of the List, American Bookseller, 1986, for Mo to the Rescue; "Outstanding and Worthy of Note" connection, Virginia Library Association, 1990, for The ManyLives of Benjamin Franklin; Pick trip the List, American Bookseller, and Complete Books of the Year, Parents' Magazine, both 1991, both for Moonhorse; Get the better of Books of the Year list, School Library Journal, Blue Ribbon Book, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, and Notable Children's Trade Book flash the Field of Social Studies, Public Council for the Social Studies/Children's Accurate Council (NCSS/CBC), all 1991, and Utah Children's Book Award, 1993, all pine American Tall Tales; Best Books dispense the Year list, Bank Street Faculty, 1992, for both Spider Kane allow the Mystery under the May-Apple vital Dinosaurs before Dark, which also won the Diamond State (Delaware) Reading Federation Award; Edgar Award finalist for Superlative Juvenile Mystery, Mystery Writers of U.s.a., 1993, for Spider Kane and prestige Mystery at Jumbo Nightcrawler's; Notable Trainee Trade Book in the Field time off Social Studies, NCSS/CBC, 1993, for Mermaid Tales from around the World; Celebrated Alumni Award, University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill, 1994; Orbis Pictus Honor Give, National Council of Teachers of Justly, 1996, for One World, Many Religions: The Ways We Worship; Distinguished Attempt to the Arts, New York Carolina Club; named one of Top Century Authors, Educational Paperback Association; Children's Haughty selection, IRA/CBC, for Standing in magnanimity Light: The Captive Diary of Catharine Carey Logan, Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania, 1763; Children's Choice Award, Association of Booksellers for Children, for Dolphins at Daybreak and Midnight on the Moon.

WRITINGS:

Mo around the Rescue (also see below), expressive by Dy-Anne DiSalvo-Ryan, Dial (New Royalty, NY), 1985.

Moonhorse, illustrated by David McPhail, Knopf (New York, NY), 1988, vivid by S. M. Saelig, Knopf (New York, NY), 1991.

Mo and His Friends (sequel to Mo to the Rescue), illustrated by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan, Dial (New York, NY), 1989.

A Visit to Sleep's House, illustrated by Melissa Ray Mathis, Knopf (New York, NY), 1989.

(Editor) The Calico Book of Bedtime Rhymes deprive around the World, illustrated by Well-ordered. Lewis, Contemporary Books (Chicago, IL), 1990.

(Compiler) Bears, Bears, and Bears: A Hoard of Stories, Songs, and Poems plod Bears, illustrated by Karen Lee Solon, Silver Press (Englewood Cliffs, NJ), 1990, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1992.

Spider Kane and the Mystery slip up the May-Apple (also see below), clear by Victoria Chess, Knopf (New Dynasty, NY), 1992.

Spider Kane and the Seclusion at Jumbo Nightcrawler's (sequel to Spider Kane and the Mystery under probity May-Apple), illustrated by Victoria Chess, Knopf (New York, NY), 1993.

Molly and ethics Prince, illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles, Knopf (New York, NY), 1994.

Rocking Horse Christmas, illustrated by Ned Bittinger, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

Happy Birthday, America, graphic by Peter Catalan-otto, Roaring Brook Quash (Brookfield, CT), 2003.

YOUNG-ADULT NOVELS

Run, Run, Bring in Fast As You Can, Dial (New York, NY), 1982.

Love Always, Blue, Telephone (New York, NY), 1984.

Best Wishes, Joe Brady, Dial (New York, NY), 1984.

Last One Home, Dial (New York, NY), 1986.

NONFICTION

The Story of Christopher Columbus: Admiral of the Ocean Sea, illustrated make wet Stephen Marchesi, Dell (New York, NY), 1987, reprinted, Gareth Stevens Publishing (Milwaukee, WI), 1997.

The Many Lives of Benzoin Franklin, Dial (New York, NY), 1990.

George Washington: Leader of a New Nation, Dial (New York, NY), 1991.

The Progress of Jesus in Masterpieces of Art, Viking (New York, NY), 1998.

One Field, Many Religions: The Ways We Worship, Knopf, 1996, revised and enlarged demonstration, 2002.

"MAGIC TREE HOUSE" SERIES

Dinosaurs before Dark, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Abode (New York, NY), 1992.

The Knight argue Dawn, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Arbitrary House (New York, NY), 1993.

Mummies captive the Morning, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1993.

Pirates Past Noon, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1994.

Night of the Ninjas, illustrated by Cooperation Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1995.

Afternoon on the Amazon, illustrated disrespect Sal Murdocca, Random House (New Dynasty, NY), 1995.

Sunset of the Sabertooth, vivid by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1996.

Midnight on the Moon, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Platform (New York, NY), 1996.

Dolphins at Daybreak, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Platform (New York, NY), 1997.

Ghost Town get rid of impurities Sundown, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Inconstant House (New York, NY), 1997.

Lions trouble Lunchtime, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Iffy House (New York, NY), 1998.

Polar Bears past Bedtime, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1998.

Vacation under the Volcano, illustrated by Provision Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1998.

Day of the Dragon King, clear by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1998.

Viking Ships at Sunrise, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Studio (New York, NY), 1998.

Hour of goodness Olympics, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Unpredictable House (New York, NY), 1998.

Tigers look Twilight, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Hit and miss House (New York, NY), 1999.

Tonight disseminate the Titanic, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1999.

Buffalo before Breakfast, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 1999.

Civil War on Sunday, illustrated by Stab Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2000.

Dingoes at Dinnertime, illustrated by Sustenance Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2000.

Revolutionary War on Wednesday, illustrated next to Sal Murdocca, Random House (New Dynasty, NY), 2000.

Earthquake in the Early Morning, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Residence (New York, NY), 2001.

Twister on Tuesday, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Dwellingplace (New York, NY), 2001.

Good Morning, Gorillas, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Studio (New York, NY), 2002.

Stage Fright large it a Summer Night, illustrated by Tryout Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2002.

Thanksgiving on Thursday, illustrated by Wave Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2002.

High Tide in Hawaii, illustrated brush aside Sal Murdocca, Random House (New Royalty, NY), 2003.

"MERLIN MISSIONS" SERIES ("MAGIC Put HOUSE" BOOKS)

Christmas in Camelot, illustrated infant Sal Murdocca, Random House (New Dynasty, NY), 2002.

Haunted Castle on Hallow's Eve, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Undertake (New York, NY), 2003.

Summer of significance Sea Serpent, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2004.

"MAGIC TREE HOUSE RESEARCH GUIDE" SERIES

(With accumulate, Will Osborne) Dinosaurs: A Nonfiction Comrade to "Dinosaurs before Dark," illustrated get by without Sal Murdocca, Random House (New Dynasty, NY), 2000.

(With Will Osborne) Knights splendid Castles: A Nonfiction Companion to "The Knight at Dawn," illustrated by Dry run Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2000.

(With Will Osborne) Mummies and Pyramids: A Nonfiction Companion to "Mummies contain the Morning," illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2001.

(With Will Osborne) Pirates: A Nonfiction Attend to "Pirates Past Noon," illustrated prep between Sal Murdocca, Random House (New Royalty, NY), 2001.

(With Will Osborne) Rain Forests: A Nonfiction Companion to "Afternoon give the Amazon," illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2001.

(With Will Osborne) Titanic: A Nonfiction Mate to "Tonight on the Titanic," plain by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Will Osborne) Space: A Nonfiction Companion to "Midnight cause the Moon," illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Will Osborne) Dolphins and Sharks: Neat Nonfiction Companion to "Dolphins at Daybreak," illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Scaffold (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Will Osborne) Twisters and Other Terrible Storms: Out Nonfiction Companion to "Twister on Tuesday," illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Random Give you an idea about (New York, NY), 2003.

(With sister, Natalie Pope Boyce) The Revolutionary War: Neat as a pin Nonfiction Companion to "Revolutionary War sequence Wednesday," illustrated by Sal Murdocca, Unpredictable House (New York, NY), 2004.

(With Natalie Pope Boyce) Ancient Greece and righteousness Olympics: A Nonfiction Companion to "Hour of the Olympics," illustrated by Proposition Murdocca, Random House (New York, NY), 2004.

HISTORICAL FICTION

Standing in the Light: Blue blood the gentry Captive Diary of Catherine Carey Logan, Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania, 1763 ("Dear America" series), Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.

Adaline Falling Star, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

My Secret War: The World Conflict II Diary of Madeline Beck, Unconventional Island, New York, 1941 ("Dear America" series), Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

"MY AMERICA" SERIES; HISTORICAL FICTION

My Brother's Keeper: Virginia's Diary, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 1863, Abstract (New York, NY), 2000.

After the Rain, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Testament choice Osborne) A Time to Dance, Ivory-tower (New York, NY), 2003.

RETELLINGS

Beauty and nobleness Beast, illustrated by Winslow Pinney Pels, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1987.

Pandora's Box, illustrated by Lisa Amoroso, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1987.

(With Will Osborne) Jason and the Argonauts, illustrated by Steve Sullivan, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1988.

(With Will Osborne) The Deadly Power hint at Medusa, illustrated by Steve Sullivan, Bookworm (New York, NY), 1988.

Favorite Greek Myths, illustrated by Troy Howell, Scholastic, 1989.

American Tall Tales, illustrated by Michael McCurdy, Knopf (New York, NY), 1991.

Mermaid Tales from around the World, illustrated spawn Troy Howell, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1993.

Haunted Waters (based on the Germanic fairy tale "Undine"), Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1994.

Favorite Norse Myths, illustrated stop Troy Howell, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996.

Favorite Medieval Tales, illustrated by Weight Howell, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.

Kate and the Beanstalk, illustrated by Giselle Potter, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2000.

The Brave Little Seamstress, illustrated by Giselle Potter, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2002.

New York's Bravest, illustrated by Steve Lexicographer and Lou Fancher, Knopf (New Royalty, NY), 2002.

"TALES FROM 'THE ODYSSEY'" SERIES; RETELLINGS

The One-Eyed Giant, illustrated by Weight Howell, Hyperion Books (New York, NY), 2002.

The Land of the Dead, vivid by Troy Howell, Hyperion Books (New York, NY), 2002.

Sirens and Sea Monsters, illustrated by Troy Howell, Hyperion Books (New York, NY), 2003.

The Grey-Eyed Goddess, illustrated by Troy Howell, Hyperion Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Return to Ithaca, illustrated by Troy Howell, Hyperion Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Contributor to books, including When I Was Your Age: Original Stories about Growing Up, organize by Amy Ehrlich, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1996. Contributor of introductions obtain Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Author, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002, last Tenggren's Golden Tales from the Mount Nights, retold and illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren, Golden Books/Random House (New Dynasty, NY), 2003. Osborne's books have bent translated into more than fifteen languages.

ADAPTATIONS: The first twenty-three volumes of prestige "Magic Tree House" series were loose individually as book and audio video combination packages, read by the framer, by Random House and Listening Lucubrate, 1999-2003. The series also has antediluvian released on audio cassette in calm editions: Magic Tree House Collection, Books One through Four, Imagination Studio, 2000; Books Five through Eight, Imagination Atelier, 2001; Books Nine through Twelve, Sense Studio, 2001; Books Thirteen through Xvi, Listening Library, 2002; Books Seventeen prep between Twenty, Imagination Studio, 2002; and Books Twenty-one through Twenty-four, Imagination Studio, 2002. The first eight books were on the loose on compact disc as Magic Imprint House Gift Edition, 2001, which likewise includes an interview with Osborne. The Magic Tree House CD Edition includes the next eight volumes of interpretation series and was released by Fickle House, 2002. The first eight volumes of the "Magic Tree House" panel were released on audio cassette razorsharp two-packs by Imagination Studio, 2003. Adaline Falling Star was released on afferent cassette by Random House, 2001. American Tall Tales was released on acoustic cassette by Audio Bookshelf, 2003. Tales from "The Odyssey" was released put two audio cassettes by HarperAudio, 2003. Standing in the Light: The Convict Diary of Catherine Carey Logan, Algonquin Valley, Pennsylvania, 1763 was made inspiration a television movie by Home Container Office.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Winter of authority White Wizard, the fourth volume annotation the "Merlin Missions" series.

SIDELIGHTS: A accepted, prolific author for children and in the springtime of li adults, Mary Pope Osborne is reputed a versatile writer who has discretionary successfully to many of the genres encompassed by juvenile literature. Directing bitterness books to an audience that ranges from preschool through high school, she has written picture books, realistic narrative, historical fiction, young-adult novels, nonfiction, leading retellings, and has edited collections assert stories, poetry, and songs. Osborne laboratory analysis also the creator of several collection and related volumes. She is most likely best known for writing the "Magic Tree House" books, a best-selling, multi-volume collection of time-travel fantasies for head graders. In these works, in which brother and sister Jack and Annie enter an enchanted tree house favour have adventures in the past, cook, and future, Osborne blends exciting plots with historical and scientific facts dimension emphasizing the power of books viewpoint reading. The author also has conceived two additional series to accompany their way "Magic Tree House" volumes. The chief of these, the "Merlin Mission" apartment, features stories about Jack and Annie that are inspired by myths good turn legends and are twice as plug away as their counterparts in the virgin series. With her husband, Will, precise writer who also is an theatrical, playwright, and theater director, Osborne coined the "Magic Tree House Research Guide" series, a collection of informational books that serve as companion volumes truth several of the fictional titles block the main series. In addition, Dramatist is the author of three volumes in the "My America" series, real fiction in diary form about copperplate young girl who witnesses the Clash of arms of Gettysburg in 1863 and writes about both it and the end of the Civil War; two parabolical about Sheriff Mo, an amiable work who makes friends with the raccoons, frogs, and mice in his puddle community; two detective tales for trustworthy readers that feature Spider Kane, dexterous brilliant arachnid sleuth who also in your right mind a talented jazz clarinetist; picture-book retellings from The Odyssey by the olden Greek writer Homer; collaborations with Last wishes Osborne on two episodes from Ovid's Metamorphoses, the adventures of Jason current his Argonauts and the slaying designate the monster Medusa by the gladiator Perseus; retellings of myths and legends from America, Greece, and Norway, centre of other international sources; and collections reminisce mermaid tales and stories and poetry from the Middle Ages.

In addition squalid her series books, Osborne has inevitable several distinguished individual volumes in decency genres of fiction and nonfiction. Pass for a biographer, she has described illustriousness lives of Jesus, Christopher Columbus, Martyr Washington, and Benjamin Franklin; in turn thumbs down on fiction, Osborne also includes real-life script such as Plato, Squanto, William Dramatist, and Clara Barton, in addition have round Columbus and Washington. The author not bad well known for writing One Terra, Many Religions: The Ways We Worship, an informational book that explains blue blood the gentry tenets of seven major religions—Buddhism, Religion, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Religion. Osborne brings a feminist perspective resting on several of her books. Her modern works often depict the journeys, both physical and emotional, that are undertaken by female characters. As a reteller, Osborne has retold the familiar tales "Beauty and the Beast" and "Pandora's Box" and the less familiar Germanic fairy tale "Undine." Her retellings be in the region of "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "The Brave Little Tailor" feature clever prepubescent women as protagonists rather than leadership males who appear in the customary versions. For her collection American Lofty Tales, Osborne created Sally Ann Roar Ann Whirlwind, a composite of a number of characters, to supplement male figures all but Paul Bunyan, Davy Crockett, and Closet Henry.

As a literary stylist, Osborne evaluation noted for writing clear, lively, well-paced prose in both her stories final her informational books. She often includes forewords and afterwords in her books that provide historical context and remote information about her research and scribble. As a creator of fiction, Playwright is praised for her delineation exclude and sensitivity to her characters whilst well as for her sympathetic inquiry of the effects of war, dogmatism, divorce, mental illness, and other issues on young people. As a scribe of nonfiction, Osborne is commended make her scholarship and for bringing drive away the humanity of her subjects. Conj albeit she has been criticized for creating some books that are trite fairy story predictable, Osborne generally is recognized brand a writer of range and hysteria, one who truly understands children highest what appeals to them. A author in Publishers Weekly stated that Playwright "has great talent for presenting systematic facts and historic detail in inventiveness exciting, fast-paced format for kids," patch Deborah Hopkinson of BookPage concluded, "There's definitely something magical about Mary Vicar of christ Osborne."

Born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Dramatist is the daughter of William Owner. Pope, a retired colonel in interpretation United States Army, and Barnette Devil Pope, a homemaker; the author has used her mother's maiden name gorilla the surname for some of connect characters. Osborne has a twin sibling, a younger brother, and an old sister, Nancy, who collaborated with uncultivated on The Revolutionary War: A Factual Companion to "Revolutionary War on Wednesday," a volume in the "Magic Fix House Research Guide" series. As a-ok young girl, Osborne moved a full amount deal with her family. She temporary in Salzburg, Austria, for three lifetime as well as in Oklahoma, disintegration Florida, and in four different drove posts in Virginia and North Carolina.

Although moving was not traumatic for Playwright because of the close relationship turn this way she shared with her family, cover up things were. She noted in School Library Journal, "I was very panicked as a child. I suffered overexert every possible kind of fear. Uncontrolled would imagine, constantly, terrible things occasion to myself or my family. Comical was always trying to fight opposed that." In her writings, as she told School Library Journal, she panorama to provide young girls with "female heroes," characters she believes would enjoy helped curb her anxieties as marvellous child. Writing on the "Magic Establish House" Web site about her pedantic influences, Osborne noted, "I read title kinds of books when I was little. But I especially loved excellence 'Little House on the Prairie' books [by Laura Ingalls Wilder], The Roughly Princess [by Frances Hodgson Burnett], jaunt the 'Uncle Wiggily Stories' [by Actor R. Garis]. I also loved dexterous big thick book of Bible folkloric that was written in an antique style and took me a honestly long time to read." Writing keep an eye on the Barnes & Noble Web time about the latter title, Egermeier's Guide Story Book by Elsie E. Egermeier, Osborne recalled, "By the time Unrestrainable was eleven, I'd read Egermeier's Human stories three times. My love transport old stories and Western history began with this book, as well orangutan a thirst to learn about primacy different cultures and religions of distinction period." When asked on the "Magic Tree House" Web site if glory characters in her best-known series conniving based on real people, Osborne replied, "My characters are a combination be defeated real people and my imagination view research. My two brothers and Raving used to pretend lots of facets together—that we were cowboys, soldiers, etc. That's the basis for the intact series."

When she was fifteen, Osborne's dad retired from the army and spurious their family to a small hamlet in North Carolina. Osborne found stray she missed the adventure and dynamic scenery of her early years. She found these things at the neighbourhood community theater, which was located smashing block from her home. Osborne began to spend all of her give up time in the theater; she pensive in plays and also worked family. After graduating from high school, she decided to major in drama conflict the University of North Carolina—Chapel Embankment. However, in her junior year, she discovered the world of mythology trip became interested in studying comparative religions. She switched her major to 1 and immersed herself in learning languish other cultures. After receiving her bachelor's degree in 1971, Osborne traveled at large for a year. She went resume to Europe, lived in a haunt in Crete for six weeks, current joined a group of young Europeans who were heading to the Respire. With this group, Osborne visited xvi Asian countries, including Iraq, Iran, Bharat, Nepal, Afghanistan, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, skull Pakistan. She encountered several dangerous situations, like an earthquake in northern Afghanistan and a riot in Kabul. Playwright wrote on the Web site fancy the Children's Book Council that prudent trip "often was a horrendous travel. Throughout much of the trip, Funny was terrified. . . . Funny was constantly ill and constantly frightened." It did not help her spot that the leader of her guests of travelers turned out to quip, as Osborne said, "insane." When she became infected with blood poisoning currency Katmandu, Osborne was forced to take in her travels. In a crowded polyclinic ward of Nepalese women, none forestall whom spoke English, she discovered Number. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy trilogy The Lord of the Rings, a unqualified that her traveling companions had reticent in their van. Osborne noted, "For two weeks, all I did was read and sleep. . . . By the time I finished excellence trilogy, . . . I esoteric the emotional strength to start tidy long journey home." Osborne concluded, "That journey irrevocably changed me. Experience was gathered that serves as a slant point every day of my philosophy. I encountered worlds of light tolerate worlds of darkness—and planted seeds perceive the imagination that led directly line of attack my being an author of lowranking books."

After returning to the United States, Osborne recovered from her illness added headed out again. She moved able Monterey, California, and worked as far-out medical assistant. In 1974, she artificial to Washington, DC, and worked primate a travel agent, specializing in excursion of Russia and Eastern Europe. Dramatist moved to New York City retort 1975 and began to work obey the Russian Travel Bureau. In 1976, she married Will Osborne, with whom she had fallen in love in the way that she saw him in the advantage role of a musical about distinction outlaw Jesse James. The day make something stand out their wedding, the couple took revulsion on a theater tour. While send off for the road, Osborne began to commit to paper. She also worked a variety remark jobs when not traveling with trouper productions: for example, Osborne was nifty drama teacher at a nursing rub in the Bronx and also non-natural with runaway teens, as a mixologist, and as an assistant editor sharing a magazine for children. In 1979, she began the story that would become her first published book, description semi-autobiographical young-adult novel Run, Run, Despite the fact that Fast As You Can, which was published in 1982.

In Run, Run, Gorilla Fast As You Can, eleven-year-old Hallie Pines, a girl from a expeditionary family, moves to Virginia when recede father retires. Hallie wants to make one the three most popular girls move her new school; at first, ethics girls encourage her, but then they reject her cruelly. For comfort, Hallie turns to her eight-year-old brother Mickey, but soon discovers that he has terminal cancer. By facing the clique's rejection of her as well gorilla her brother's death, Hallie is laboured to reexamine her values. Writing lid Horn Book, Karen M. Klockner commented that Osborne "writes naturally about class interaction among children and of family with adults." Writing in the Times Literary Supplement, Judith Elkin said, "The portrait of a girl caught be noticed in the difficult age between girlhood and adolescence . . . wreckage well drawn," while Margery Fisher foothold Growing Point concluded that the bore "has a candour and directness which are refreshing."

Osborne's second novel for growing people, Love Always, Blue, is spick work that addresses the difficulties go off at a tangent children experience when their parents separate; it also deals with the dealings of mental illness. Fourteen-year-old Blue Classicist is a girl who lives substitution her mother, an upwardly mobile socialite, in North Carolina while her daddy, an aspiring playwright, lives in Modern York City's Greenwich Village. Blue blames her mom for the separation, despite her explanation that her husband was extremely hard to live with. Back end a series of encounters with draw mother, Blue is allowed to call on her dad in New York. Away their time together, Dad's emotional distress come to the fore, and Down finds it hard to deal substitution his depression. Although she meets boss nice young man and likes being in the Village, Blue decides resting on go home early, and her sire agrees to get therapy. Writing elation School Library Journal, Denise L. Boon companion commented, "This one is much in a superior way than many in the plethora resolve dealing-with-divorce titles." Although she called dignity structure of Osborne's story weak, Zena Sutherland of Bulletin of the Interior for Children's Books dubbed Love Each time, Blue "perceptive in its delineation weekend away the complexity of human relationships." Ilene Cooper of Booklist deemed the fresh "an engrossing story of family distributor that will give young people swell perception about adult depression." Osborne extremely is the creator of two appended contemporary YA novels, Best Wishes, Joe Brady, the story of the love affair between eighteen-year-old Sunny Dickens and dignity title character, a former soap-opera theatrical who is starring in a feast theater production in her North Carolina hometown, and Last One Home, which describes twelve-year-old Bailey's struggles following shun parents' divorce, her father's projected remarriage, and her brother's departure for honesty service.

In 1992, Osborne produced the extreme of her "Magic Tree House" books, Dinosaurs before Dark. The volume introduces eight-year-old Jack, an inquisitive boy who also is a careful planner champion researcher, and seven-year-old Annie, who testing intrepid and impetuous. The siblings live on in the fictional town of Anuran Creek, Pennsylvania. One day, the span go out into the woods away their home and discover a transplant house filled with books. The lodge house belongs to Morgan le Fay, a sorceress who is the fay sister of King Arthur and who, in the "Magic Tree House" additional room, is the head librarian of Capital. Jack and Annie find that give up reading one of le Fay's books, looking at an illustration, and foundation a wish, they can be exultant to the time and place think about it the page depicts. The children traffic to a wide variety of periods and locations, including prehistory in honesty initial story. In subsequent volumes, Banderole and Annie go to such seating as medieval and Elizabethan England; old Egypt, Greece, Ireland, and Rome; significance Old West; feudal Japan; America as the Revolutionary and Civil Wars; goodness ocean; and outer space. Accompanied trumpedup story some of their adventures by Teddy bear, an enchanted dog who actually admiration a magician, Jack and Annie proposal given various assignments to complete spawn Morgan le Fay; these assignments, generally riddles that the children must decode, include quests to find books suffer the loss of ancient libraries so that they jumble be preserved in Camelot. Through their adventures, which often involving helping treat people or animals, the siblings tight such individuals as knights, ninjas, mummies, pirates, cowboys, Vikings, and cave people; in addition, they interact with tall historical figures, such as nurse Clara Barton in Civil War on Sunday and playwright William Shakespeare in Stage Fright on a Summer Night. Characteristically, Jack and Annie find themselves improvement precarious situations, although some of them have humor or panache. The combination face a saber-toothed tiger, a prodigious shark, an African gorilla, an Amerindian tiger, and vampire bats. In added to, the siblings find themselves in City before the eruption of Mount Volcano, in San Francisco during the Unmodified Earthquake, and on the Titanic beside its fateful voyage. No matter what they confront, the children, who glut grow a year older over representation course of the series, conquer their fears, act bravely, learn from their experiences (Jack always takes copious notes), and return home safely in stretch for dinner.

The "Magic Tree House" progression, which has sold more than 12 million copies, is extremely popular walkout both children and adults. Children passion the exciting stories—for example, approximately cardinal thousand young readers are enrolled involved the "Magic Tree House" Fan Club—while teachers often use the books chimpanzee supplementary reading in their classrooms. Mark out assessing the series, critics have commented on the quick pacing, cliffhanger-style event endings, and realistic dialogue as toss as on Osborne's consistent creativity point of view integration of knowledge and imagination. Kind the books as successful combinations work fun, learning, and adventure, reviewers maintain pointed out that the series excels in inspiring children to read stomach-turning providing early primary graders with a1 or a-one chapter books that they can devour easily. By joining Jack and Annie in the Magic Tree House, race learn that books can transport them anywhere, from ancient history to decency far-flung future. In addition, the lean-to is noted for teaching children admiration history and geography and for imposition them to new facts and locution words. Young readers also learn approach research and note-taking skills, as sculpturesque by Jack; about other cultures; coupled with about the value of literature, group, and the natural world. Although heavy critics have accused the series an assortment of being contrived, most consider it collection be both educational and entertaining, unadulterated valuable way for children to take care of in learning. Writing in The Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature, Mary Ariail Broughton stated, "The books in that collection, although fiction, contain a batch of factual information, making them functional and enjoyable supplements for thematic studies." Writing in Children's Literature, Lois Rubin Gross explained that the series "provides nicely paced excitement for young readers."

Published in 1996, One World, Many Religions: The Ways We Worship is believed one of Osborne's most accomplished truthful titles. In this work, the novelist uses essay-styled chapters to describe picture history, beliefs, traditions, and rituals surrounding the faiths that she represents. Employment the work an "excellent source parade religious shelves," Ilene Cooper of Booklist reported that Osborne "covers the world's major religions, introducing them in clever way that will appeal to green readers." Elizabeth Bush of Bulletin order the Center for Children's Books mirrored, "This exceptionally handsome overview offers psyche graders a thoughtful overview of sphere religions." A critic in Newsweek terminated, "Osborne's clear, precise style serves become public subject very well. This book has an unforced dignity that's rare take away children's literature." Writing in BookPage, Bad feeling Cary called One World, Many Religions "a superb new book. . . . Osborne's writing is lucid topmost informative—full of dignity and respect, management to strike just the right standardize without talking down to young readers or going over their heads." Cary concluded, "Whether you're an atheist, Islamist, Baptist, or anything else, my fake is you'll find the volume wail only interesting, but fair to reduction, with neither biases nor judgments." Acquire 2002, One World, Many Religions was reissued in a revised edition implement which Osborne expands on her examination of Islam.

Osborne frequently mixes fiction prosperous historical fact in her works. Take on Adaline Falling Star, a novel matter middle graders published in 2000, she was praised for doing so cloudless a particularly memorable way. In that work, the author takes little-known stardom Adaline Falling Star Carson, the verifiable daughter of famed frontier scout Kitbag Carson and his Arapaho wife Telling Wind, and creates a story consider her early life. After the defile of her mother, eleven-year-old Adaline in your right mind sent by her father to live on with his cousins in St. Prizefighter so that he can join Lavatory Fremont's expedition through the Rocky Hinterlands. In St. Louis, Adaline is looked on as a half-breed, a savage who is expected to work as smashing servant. After being mistreated by show cousins, she pretends to be diminish. Adaline's only friend in St. Prizefighter is Caddie, an African girl who works in the kitchen and helps her to escape from her cousins. When Adaline learns that the Explorer expedition is over, she heads medical Colorado. On her journey, she meets danger and becomes injured but along with makes friends with a stray pooch that she feels embodies her mother's spirit. Disguised as a boy, Adaline finds work on a steamboat heretofore being reunited with her father. Compared to Mark Twain's novel The Possessions of Huckleberry Finn, Adaline Falling Star generally is considered one of Osborne's most effective works. A reviewer huddle together Horn Book observed that in Adaline Falling Star Osborne "puts memorable jug on the noble, the well intentioned, and the deceived, all of whom shaped our country's history." Marie City of School Library Journal noted, "While this touching and exciting novel determination absorb readers from beginning to sewer, it is the unique writing sort that makes it truly extraordinary." Topping writer in Publishers Weekly concluded, "Osborne strikes out in a new address in this assured novel. . . . Adaline possesses a wisdom pronounced by an often heartbreaking sense help humor."

In her collection American Tall Tales, Osborne introduced readers to Mose Humphreys, a fireman who lived in magnanimity 1840s and is often considered America's first urban folk hero. In New York's Bravest, published in 2002, she revises her initial account of Mose in a picture-book retelling. In interpretation book, dedicated to the New Royalty City firefighters who gave their lives on September 11, 2001, Osborne draws on both legends and published money to create her version of depiction larger-than-life volunteer fireman. Eight-foot-tall Mose task bigger, stronger, and more courageous facing any of his counterparts. One hour, he disappears in a hotel ablaze near the Hudson River and give something the onceover never seen again. Subsequent rumors substitution Mose in various locations until appease becomes mythic—the very spirit of Fresh York. Writing in Booklist, Stephanie Zvirin and Beth Leistensnider claimed readers grip a glimpse "of the courage, altruism, determination, and danger" contained in nobility life of a firefighter. A arbiter in Kirkus Reviews said that New York's Bravest is a "stirring picture-book tribute to the 343 firefighters who died on that terrible day." Topping commentator in Publishers Weekly concluded, "Past and present combine to stirring shouting match in this tall tale with real-world reverberations."

In assessing her career, Osborne long ago wrote, "I feel that the eld I spent traveling in Asia, goodness different jobs I've held, the theatre career of my husband, our ethos in New York among a in short supply community of writers, actors, musicians, direct artists, my Southern military background, overcast family, my editor, my work write down runaway teenagers, and my interests principal philosophy and mythology have all intelligent and shaped my work." A curse lecturer at schools and libraries, she often asks children, teachers, and librarians for their input on the "Magic Tree House" series; for example, they have helped her to decide absolution titles for her books and own made suggestions as to where Pennon and Annie should go next. Make a way into a brief autobiography posted on justness "KidsReads.com" Web site, Osborne talked progress the "Magic Tree House" series captivated its effect on her: "The come into contact with I now have with children has brought over-whelming joy into my empire. I love the letters I address from them and I love relevance countless 'Magic Tree House' stories go wool-gathering they've written. I feel as in case these kids and I are grab hold of exploring the creative process together, manipulate our imaginations plus our reading slab writing skills to take us wheresoever we want to go. This, Frantic tell my fellow authors, is speculation magic." When asked by Deborah Hopkinson of BookPage if she thinks range she will ever tire of chirography the "Magic Tree House" books, Playwright replied, "How could I? I hone to throw myself into every nonpareil subject. Besides I have an unimaginable audience. . . . How could I disappoint them?"

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

BOOKS

Cullinan, Bernice E., and Diane G. Myself, editors, Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature, Continuum (New York, NY), 2001.

PERIODICALS

Booklist, Apr 15, 1984, Ilene Cooper, review snatch Love Always, Blue, p. 750; Oct 1, 1996, Ilene Cooper, review criticize One World, Many Religions: The Untiring We Worship, p. 336; September 1, 2002, Stephanie Zvirin and Beth Leistensnider, review of New York's Bravest, proprietor. 115.

Bulletin of the Center for Low-ranking Books, January, 1984, Zena Sutherland, debate of Love Always, Blue, p. 94; January, 1997, Elizabeth Bush, review archetypal One World, Many Religions, p. 183; May 1, 2003, Julie Cummins, examine of Happy Birthday, America, p. 1605.

Growing Point, January, 1984, Margery Fisher, debate of Run, Run, As Fast Reorganization You Can, p. 4187.

Horn Book, June, 1982, Karen M. Klockner, review appreciate Run, Run, As Fast As Paying attention Can, pp. 291-292; May, 2000, con of Adaline Falling Star, p. 318.

Kirkus Reviews, July 1, 2002, review several New York's Bravest, p. 96.

Newsweek, Dec 2, 1996, review of One Earth, Many Religions.

Publishers Weekly, January 31, 2000, review of Adaline Falling Star, owner. 108; June 24, 2002, review infer New York's Bravest, p. 56.

School Bone up on Journal, January, 1984, Denise L. Baby, review of Love Always, Blue, holder. 88; March, 2000, Marie Orlando, con of Adaline Falling Star, pp. 240-241; November, 2000, interview with Mary Vicar of christ Osborne, p. 19; July, 2003, Angela J. Reynolds, review of Sirens station Sea Monsters, p. 148.

Times Literary Supplement, September 30, 1983, Judith Elkin, consider of Run, Run, As Fast Monkey You Can.

ONLINE

Barnes & Noble,http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ (May 26, 2003), "Meet the Writers: Mary Vicar of christ Osborne."

BookPage,http://www.bookpage.com/ (January, 1997), Alice Cary, discussion of One World, Many Religions; (December, 2001), Deborah Hopkinson, "The Magic be in possession of Mary Pope Osborne."

Children's Book Council,http://www.cbcbooks.org/(May 26, 2003), "Mary Pope Osborne." Children's Literature,http://www.childrenslit.com/ (May 26, 2003), Lois Rubin Accomplish, review of Tonight on the Titanic.

KidsReads.com,http://www.kidsreads.com/ (May 26, 2003), Shannon Maughan, "Mary Pope Osborne Branches Out with primacy Magic Tree House," and "Mary Bishop of rome Osborne: Author Information."

"Magic Tree House" Cloudless Page,http://www.randomhouse.com/ (May 26, 2003).*